Planning researchers from London and Melbourne will explore the past, present, and future of urban manufacturing and industrial lands.

Covid-19 highlighted the urgent need to address supply chain vulnerability, a lack of climate resilient industries, and workforce inequality. Zoning that supports urban manufacturing may offer new opportunities to promote sustainable development that addresses these challenges. Cities around the globe are now looking at ways to plan for industry by reintegrating production into denser, mixed industry areas.

However, many cities face severe shortages of industrial land after decades of rezoning for mixed-use development and often lack the tools to address pressures from competing or conflicting uses including housing and varied commercial and industrial uses. Moreover, contemporary industry patterns are founded on the long lineage of planning and zoning approaches, yet these may be out of sync with emerging industry conflicts.